Royce Lumpkin, a native of Kilgore, Texas, has been the chair of the music department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte since 1998. He holds degrees in music education from the University of North Texas and a DMA degree in trombone performance from the University of Oklahoma. Teaching experience prior to joining the faculty at UNC Charlotte includes 27 years at the University of North Texas.
Lumpkin is known nationally as a performer, clinician and adjudicator. He was the tenor tuba and bass trumpet player with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for more than 20 years, and performed on three recordings with the DSO. Other performance credits include the Dallas Opera Orchestra, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Dallas Bach Society, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the San Angelo (TX) Symphony Orchestra, the Chautauqua (NY) Symphony Orchestra, the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, and the Fort Worth-Dallas Ballet Orchestra.
An active member of the International Trombone Association, Lumpkin served as president from 1990–92. He was invited to be a member of the faculty of the International Trombone Workshops in 1983, 1985 and 1990.